The manual further states that taking a direct part in hostilities means that “the person involved engages in hostilities aimed at hitting enemy personnel or materiel. Examples include firing at enemy troops, throwing molotov cocktails or blowing up a bridge used for the transport of military materiel.”

The Military Manual (2005) of the Netherlands states: “Combatants are those entitled to participate directly in hostilities. ‘Participate directly in hostilities’ comprises more than participation in battle: it also covers direct support of military operations.”

In the Netherlands, civil servants of the Defence Ministry who perform activities during an armed conflict must be deemed to play a direct part in hostilities. It must be remembered that “direct participation in hostilities” comprises more than participation in battle. It also covers more direct support of military operations. There are criteria for assessing whether direct participation in hostilities is taking place. Important factors here are the nature and place of the activities to be performed.

[C]ivilians enjoy no protection, as described above, if they take a direct part in the hostilities. “Take a direct part in the hostilities” means that the person concerned carries out acts of war aimed at personnel or equipment of the enemy forces. Such actions include firing on hostile troops, throwing Molotov cocktails, blowing up a bridge over which enemy materiel is transported, and transporting equipment to battle positions. Actions such as manufacturing and transporting military materiel in the rear area certainly do not constitute direct participation in hostilities.

In its chapter on non-international armed conflict, the manual states:

A distinction should always be made between those directly participating in the fighting and those not participating in military operations, and persons who have been removed from the fighting (hors de combat). The first category of persons may in principle be attacked, whereas the second category should be protected against the consequences of combat.

The Military Manual (2005) of the Netherlands states: “The presence within the civilian population of individuals who do not come within the definition of civilians does not deprive the population of its civilian character.”

In its chapter on the protection of the civilian population, the manual states: “If there is any uncertainty whether someone is a genuine civilian, this person is given the benefit of the doubt pending proof to the contrary, and must be treated as a civilian.”